The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are sure to be paid with compound interest in the end.

He that dies a martyr proves that he was not a knave, but by no means that he was not a fool.

Of all the passions, jealousy is that which exacts the hardest service, and pays the bitterest wages. Its service is to watch the success of one's enemy; its wages to be sure of it.

Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but in the negation of that which is false.

Revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude

In order to try whether a vessel be leaky, we first prove it with water before we trust it with wine.

It is with nations as with individuals, those who know the least of others think the highest of themselves; for the whole family of pride and ignorance are incestuous, and mutually beget each other.